Of the U.S. branches, which uniform is the most cluttered with meaningless trinkets? The least cluttered?

I wouldn't call any item on a military uniform "meaningless," but there definitely are items that don't really tell you anything special about the wearer. For example, the brass letters "US" on U. S. Army uniforms. If you're on an American base, do you expect to see any Royal Army soldiers? For some reason, the U. S. Navy feels no need to have those letters on their uniforms. So those letters are just two more items a soldier has to clean and polish so he can pass inspection.

I've always thought the M-buckle on the Marine men's service alpha uniform was meaningless. The corresponding women's uniform doesn't have it.

The Army uniform looks very cluttered, and I used to think brass cross rifles on the lapels were unnecessary, until I thought about the fact that the Army doesn't require every soldier to know how to use a rifle. In place of the cross rifles, medical personnel would have the caduceus, Christian chaplains would have Christ's cross, etc.

My suggestion for your character is to make her a Marine Lieutenant who just barely qualified at the rifle range. Then all you have to make sure to draw on the uniform is: the Lieutenant's bar, a National Defense ribbon, a Rifle Marksman badge.

Which uniforms are you talking about? I'm assuming you mean the class uniforms because if thats the case the army and the marines have a lot going on with their class uniforms but marines have that nice hat which is also very detailed. I wouldnt called them "meaningless trinkets" because nothing we earn is meaningless. Its all there for a good reason.

I don't think you know any better, so I am not going to get offended. You should please understand that nothing is a meaningless trinket on a military uniform. Many of the award have to do with life and death struggle or symbolize great personal struggle. Some also commemorate the death of other people.

For your manga character, just draw it with fewer medals and symbols if that is what suits you. Just remember, that people you do not know have died for you, and more will die for you in the future.

there is meaningless trinkets on all uniforms, and this is coming from someone who is proud to be a vet.

every single branch gives one if not more ribbons JUST for passing basic...i consider that pretty meaningless since the uniform itself a sign that you passed.

cant talk much about the other branches since i was just in the army but:

AAMs- when you see someone who hasnt deployed and has only been in for 4 years with almost 10 of those, that speaks about how meaningless it is.

the army made the black beret meaningless when they took it from ranger regiment and gave it to the nasty guard and pregnant women who cant even do their duties as a soldier....

they made the cab meaningless when they gave it to fobbits.

hell even riggers have their own badge....and they have the biggest population of druggies in the army.

i know the other branches have similiar issues, but i cant site specifics.

then again IMO if its not earned in combat or by voluntarily going above and beyond what is required (like why it only used to be airborne units and special operations that were allowed to wear berets) then its meaningless.

lisa- wtf are you talking about? not everyone in the army knows how to use a rifle? sorry, but no. you know the difference between the army and the marines when it comes to "knowing how to use a rifle?" the army doesnt make a big deal about advertising it, and we dont try to claim that "everyone in our branch (women included) are infantry"... everyone, aside from chaplains, are still riflemen first, but we dont see a need to make a big deal out of the MOST BASIC of soldier tasks...

the army has the most stuff on their uniform, the marines have the least, google military dress uniform and a bunch of pics will come up of different types

Hmmm... I know you don't mean this in a offensive or distasteful way, but my husband has EARNED every single 'trinket' on his uniform. He has all his ribbons, his unit patch, Combat patch, and unit pins, and the blue infantry cord, his weapon qualifications, and the ribbons over the right breast pocket are awarded to his unit, for different accomplishments in combat.

If you want something authentic, but less detailed, perhaps your character should be a private? in some cases they will have a few less pins and ribbons.

I have a problem with the question too. I am not military or ex military but my father was a career Marine. 30 yr., Master Gunnery Sargent. WWII, Korea and Viet Nam. He had a lot of "Fruit Salad". He tried to teach me how to read it. It was not meaningless to him. He wore very little of it on his uniform, even his dress blues. But those who knew could read those ribbons and other insignia. I am sorry I did not learn how to.

Nothing is meaningless on any uniform.